PORT TOWNSEND — All decked out in wigs, boas and skirts, men will display the latest in Goodwill fashion at a special fundraiser for the Rhododendron Festival tonight.
The 75th annual Rhododendron Festival will begin Monday and offer races and parades until the grand finale parade Saturday.
Tonight’s “Dude Looks Like a Lady” fundraiser will begin at 6 p.m. at the Port Townsend Elk’s Club, 555 Otto St.
Admission will be $5 at the door.
Donations to specific models will be encouraged as each performs on stage and as he moves through the crowd.
Audience members will vote for their favorite models with their donations, and the model collecting the most money will be crowned the winner at the end of the evening.
“We’re raising funds for a new trailer or repairing the old one, besides helping the festival,” said Melanie Bozak, a show organizer.
The trailer holds the Rhody Festival float, which travels throughout the state from April to October.
The lineup has changed somewhat since last weekend, with some men dropping out and others joining in.
Sixteen men — including Ralph Hutchinson, who also will serve as master of ceremonies — are slated to serve as models, Bozak said.
Royalty dads join in
The dads of the festival royalty are among them. Larry Richards, stepfather of Rhody Festival Queen Ashlee Marie Nollette, and Bill LeMaster, father of Princess Teslin LeMaster, will perform.
Others planning to strut their stuff on the catwalk are Julian Arthur, Steve Bozak, Tom Carroll, Ramon Daily, Mickey Davis, Tony DeLeo, James Gates, Robert Hobbs, Don Hoglund, Jason Hollingsworth, Steve Spencer, John Stroeder and Nate Taylor.
Goodwill is donating the clothing for the evening.
Rhody Fest activities
Queen Nolette, 16, and Princess LeMaster, 16, both juniors at Port Townsend High School, will reign over the festivities.
The royal court will leave their handprints at the Fort Worden Rhody Garden at 3 p.m. Monday.
On Wednesday, the Trike Race for those 6 and younger will take off at 6 p.m. on Washington Street between Taylor and Quincy streets.
On Thursday, the Pet Parade is planned at 4 p.m. from Pierce to Taylor streets.
Next Friday, May 14, the Kiddie Parade will line up at 2:45 p.m. for a journey from Pierce to Madison streets.
Later that day, participants will check in at 6 p.m. for the Bed Race on Washington Street, between Quincy and Taylor.
Also, next Friday, members of the public can enter their best rhododendron blooms at the annual Rhododendron Show at the Fort Worden State Park Chapel from noon to 6 p.m.
Entries in the show sponsored by the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society will be judged the morning of Saturday, May 15.
The show will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 16.
The Rhododendron Festival Parade — which has the theme of Diamond Jubilee — will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 15, on Lawrence Street uptown.
Also that day, the 17th annual Jim Caldwell Memorial Rhody Golf Tournament will begin at 8 a.m. at the Port Townsend Golf Club.
It will continue on Sunday, May 16, beginning at 9 a.m.
For a complete list of activities, see www.ptguide.com/rhodyfest/schedule.html.
